WORCESTER Warriors have landed themselves “in struggle street” after their dismal 20-13 defeat at Aviva Premiership relegation rivals London Irish, admits wing Bryce Heem.

The powerful Kiwi acknowledges Warriors have a fight on their hands to avoid relegation to the Championship.

Warriors were outplayed for long periods by Irish, who had two tries ruled out by the television match official.

“It was definitely a step backwards,” said Heem, who was yellow-carded and later scored a try for Warriors.

“It was an opportunity for us to have got ahead in the table. We are sitting in 10th place but only by one point and we’ve now put ourselves in struggle street.

“It’s going to be a bit of a fight to get out of it. We have a good team, good players and good coaching and management.

“I think everyone needs to get on board and we can stay in this Premiership.”

Worcester have lost 12 successive matches in all competitions and are just one point above Newcastle Falcons and Irish, who occupy the bottom two places at the halfway stage in the campaign.

Just one team will be demoted and a relegation dogfight is a new experience for Auckland-born Heem.

“I have been in a fight to go up to another level but never a fight to stay up,” he said.

“Both situations call for character and for everyone to come together so, as a team, hopefully we can do that.

“We’ve put ourselves in a tough spot now but it’s a good chance for the team to come together, really show hunger and put the fight out on to the field.”

Heem grabbed his second try in seven games since arriving at Sixways but felt Warriors lacked a mental edge, which allowed Irish to impose themselves in the opening half.

“We let them get ahead in the first half. They came out firing and we didn’t really have a mental edge,” he said.

“We let them get to the gain-line off set-piece too easily and gave them front-foot ball, which is hard to defend.

“We came out fighting in the second half but were chasing the game and it’s always tough in the Premiership when you do that.”

Heem said he couldn’t put his finger on why Warriors had started the must-win clash so poorly.

“Maybe individuals need to look at their game prep. I am not too sure,” he said.

“The preparation throughout the week for our team was really good, we had everything we wanted to do and we just had to put it out there on the pitch. But I couldn’t tell you why we were a bit flat in the first half.

“The leadership has been good throughout the team and this is not just about those leading from the front because I think they have been doing it.

“It’s time for everyone else to step up and get on the same page and to the same level.”

Heem was yellow-carded in the first-half after making a try-saving tackle on Irish wing Topsy Ojo, but felt it was a harsh decision.

Warriors are in league action against a misfiring Bath at Sixways on Saturday (3pm) in a game they have to win.

“The support for the whole club has been there throughout the season and it’s time for us, as players, to give back to them and show our thanks,” added Heem.

“We will definitely need the supporters behind us for these next few games.

“A lot of teams will be missing some crucial players during the Six Nations and it’s a good opportunity for us. But we are a good side and just need to put it out on the pitch.”